Renee Coffey
Griffith · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“He has also been a leader in sepsis advocacy, helping improve awareness, care and recovery for people affected by sepsis. Professor Hans Peter Soyer received his honour for distinguished service in dermatology, skin cancer diagnosis, medical research and governance.”
“His work aims to find skin cancers earlier, improve patient outcomes and address gaps in access to care, especially in regional, rural and remote Australia. Katarina Carroll AO APM received her honour for distinguished service to law enforcement, disaster management and the community.”
“This year's King's Birthday Honours recognised 14 Griffith recipients whose service reflects the best of our community. In my short few minutes here today, I want to acknowledge a few of them. Matthew Ames received his honour for significant service to community health, engineering, business administration and corporate governance.”
“Christine also contributed to the taskforce on domestic and family violence which delivered the landmark Not now, not ever report. She now serves on the board of DVConnect, continuing to work to support people experiencing violence and abuse. I also acknowledge the other Griffith recipients named in this year's honours.”
“Australia's strength has never come from sameness. It has come from the people who have built lives across difference, from our many First Nations communities with millennia of history and culture—the oldest continuous cultures on earth—to people who arrive with little English, little money and deep hope for their children, people who tur…”
“My friend the member for Reid said in this House in her maiden speech: In just over half a century, we have moved from an embrace of a White Australia policy to a country that is now a majority-migrant nation. But what is more remarkable is how this news was received—not with backlash but with a genuine embrace of modern Australia.”
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“We're developing national clinical guidelines for perimenopause and menopause to support a national consistent approach for care and increasing awareness and access to education and training on perimenopause and menopause for health professionals. We're investing $109.1 million to support women's health trials through pharmacists for the effective treatment of uncomplicated UTIs and access to contraceptives. These trials will make it easier for women to get the care they need from a pharmacist. We're investing $443.4 million for the listing of more medicines on the PBS, including oral contraceptive pills as well as menopausal hormone therapies. In addition, the oral contraceptive pills Slinda and Ryeqo for endometriosis were listed on the PBS from May this year.”
“The Australian government is investing $792.9 million through the 2025-26 budget to increase the capacity of the primary care workforce to support women's health needs, increase access to services and make both services and medicines more affordable. This funding includes $159.9 million to make it easier for women in Australia to access affordable, long-acting, reversible contraception, one of the most effective and reliable methods of contraception. We're also investing $64.5 million to improve access to more effective and high-quality models of care for endometriosis and pelvic pain, and perimenopause and menopause management and support. This includes 11 new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics across Australia, bringing the total to 33 clinics and expanding their scope.”
“Improving the health and wellbeing of all women, girls and gender-diverse people is a key priority for the Australian government. We know that women's interactions with the healthcare system are different to that of men's. We know women spend more on out-of-pocket healthcare costs than men, and younger women spend more than men their age, partly due to maternity care and the higher prevalence of chronic illness. We know that women experience delayed diagnosis across a wide range of conditions and diseases. This government, the continuation of Australia's first majority women government, understands and acknowledges there are systemic challenges women face in accessing timely, affordable and appropriate health care. That's why I'm so proud to acknowledge the groundbreaking women's healthcare package included in the 2025-26 budget.”
“From across the country, thousands of responses were received. Two-thirds of women reported that they experienced healthcare related gender bias and discrimination. These have a far-reaching impact on women's lives. Women reported feelings of abandonment, shame, blame and self-doubt; significant financial burden; lost educational and career opportunities; and delayed diagnosis and treatment, which led to disease progression, fewer treatments and worse health outcomes. The 2025 theme of Women's Health Week is Say Yes to You, which encourages women to prioritise their health, speak up and access the care that they need. These values align strongly with our government's commitment to equity, dignity and universal health care.”
“This week is Women's Health Week, which is held annually in the first week of September. It's a national campaign led by Jean Hailes for Women's Health, a national non-profit organisation dedicated to improving women's health across Australia and through every stage of life. Women's Health Week promotes health awareness, education and empowerment for women, girls and gender-diverse people across Australia because, for too long, women's health has too often been overlooked, ignored and pushed to the side. This has been a result of historical neglect in research and care, leading to gender bias, medical misogyny and systemic inequities. In 2023, the National Women's Health Advisory Council conducted the #EndGenderBias survey to better understand the unique barriers women face in Australia's healthcare system.”
“I move: That this House: (1) affirms the importance of Women's Health Week, held annually in the first week in September, as a national campaign led by Jean Hailes for Women's Health, promoting health awareness, education, and empowerment for women, girls, and gender-diverse people across Australia; (2) celebrates the 2025 theme, 'Say yes to you', which encourages women to prioritise their health, speak up, and access the care they need, values that align with the Government's commitment to equity, dignity, and universal healthcare; (3) acknowledges the systemic challenges women face in accessing timely, affordable, and appropriate healthcare, including underdiagnosed conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic pain, cardiovascular disease, and menopause-related symptoms; (4) commends the Government for its historic investment of $793 million to strengthen Medicare and improve women's health outcomes, including: (a) new Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listings for oral contraceptives and menopause hormone therapies; (b) expanded bulk billing and Medicare rebates for long-acting reversible contraceptives and menopause health assessments; (c) the establishment of 11 new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, increasing the national total to 33 clinics; and (d) national trials enabling pharmacists to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections, improving access for over 250,000 concession cardholders; and (5) reaffirms this House's ongoing commitment to a fairer, stronger healthcare system that meets the needs of all Australians, especially women, through evidence-based policy, investment, and compassion.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Gabe McLoughlin and the wonderful art department at CHAC and also to thank Ella Taylor, her WorldSkills mentor Carol Costa and the fashion department at TAFE Queensland Mount Gravatt campus for all the work they put in. I was so proud last night to be able to showcase that at the ball.”
“The first is equally valuing vocational education and training, the second is supporting lifelong learning, something I know everyone in this place is passionate about, and the third is strengthening the partnerships that we, the Australian government, have already established. I passionately believe that all of these are essential in continuing to build a skills system that is responsive to the needs of the people in my community of Griffith, of Australians and of our Australian economy and also to create a skills system that puts vocational education and training on an equal footing with university. It is very clear we need graduates from both sectors to meet the challenges we will face as Australians in the coming years.”
“I'm also proud to advise that some of Gabe's work has recently been selected to be included as a finalist in the Q ueer Here exhibition as part of Brisbane's pride festival at Griffith University Queensland College of Art and Design in South Bank, which is also in my electorate. Both Ella and Gabe are rising stars in design and fashion. Having worked in the education sector for much of my career, most recently supporting First Nations young people to pursue their career ambitions through both vocational and university pathways, I am passionate about educational choice. This week, our minister for skills and training outlined three key priorities that will be his focus for this term as the skills and training minister in our Albanese Labor government.”
“It is important to Ella that she promotes sustainability in fashion, so she and Carol chose to use dead stock for the gown. Dead stock is surplus material that otherwise would have been discarded. The use of this fabric in Ella's creation can be seen as part of sustainable practice because it diverts materials from landfill. Ella is not only an incredibly gifted designer but also an inspiring example of the pathways available through TAFE. As the local MP, I see it as part of my role to showcase and celebrate this. I also commissioned a local high school student and emerging designer from Cannon Hill Anglican College, Gabe McLoughlin, to create a bespoke clutch purse to accompany the gown. Gabe chose to hand bead a Cooktown orchid, which is Queensland's floral emblem.”
“I'm really proud to advise that Ella was recently selected for the national training squad for WorldSkills Australia, and the final squad—the Skillaroos—will be announced in the near future. Those selected Skillaroos will be competing in the 48th WorldSkills Competition held in Shanghai, China, from 22 September to 27 September next year. With a national stage like the midwinter ball, it was important to me to use it to highlight the incredible local talent we have in my community of Griffith. Working closely with her WorldSkills mentor, Carol Costa—an amazing woman—Ella brought the gown to life, blending her technical excellence and creative flair. It started as a pencil sketch. She then fitted me, measured me, cut out the materials, sewed the gown together and did a final fitting. So much work went into this gown.”
“As I'm sure you're aware, the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery Midwinter Ball is an annual charity gala bringing together parliamentarians, journalists and community leaders to raise funds for important causes. Ella Taylor, who is studying a Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising at TAFE Queensland's Mount Gravatt campus, in my electorate of Griffith, recently won gold at the WorldSkills Australia National Championships. Supported by the Australian government, WorldSkills Australia is a social enterprise that passionately believes skills drive the future of young people and of Australia. WorldSkills Australia is part of an international WorldSkills movement, and since 1981 they have been enabling young people to showcase their trade and skills both here and overseas at competitions.”
“I saw this in action recently at my local TAFE Queensland, at the Mount Gravatt campus, which is located in my electorate of Griffith. There, students in Brisbane's south are offered a convenient location to pursue their study goals. You can study conservation and ecosystem management, entrepreneurship and new business, horticulture, accounts administration, early childhood education and care, and so much more. Mount Gravatt is also TAFE Queensland's fashion studies hub. It offers a range of applied fashion design and millinery courses and hosts an annual Brisbane fashion parade where students showcase their designs. Recently, I commissioned award-winning local TAFE Queensland student Ella Taylor to design and create my gown for last night's 2025 Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery Midwinter Ball.”
“I'm very pleased today to speak during National Skills Week, an important occasion to raise the profile and status of skills and vocational learning, and to showcase attractive career opportunities for all Australians. As our Minister for Skills and Training shared this week, the Albanese government is working hard to put TAFE at the centre of our vocational education and training system. At TAFE campuses across the country, you see students from every walk of life learning together and sharing their experiences. You see staff who love what they do, bringing their industry know-how and real passion for their students' futures. And you see facilities that just keep getting better, keeping pace with the dreams of learners and the needs of local industries.”
“I also think about all of the families with young children who have cystic fibrosis and what these changes will mean for them. This bill reassures all of them that they don't have to choose between their health and their hip pocket—that their health and wellbeing matters. This is what fairness in health care looks like. It is cheaper medicines, a stronger Medicare and real relief for families. That is why I am proud to commend this bill to the House.”
“Renee and I discussed how expanding the range of affordable treatment options not only gives women more choice but reduces the burden of their symptoms on families, communities and the economy. This didn't happen by accident. It's a product of strong advocacy from pharmacists, the National Women's Health Advisory Council, clinicians and, most importantly, patients who raised their voices. As our Prime Minister said, the size of your bank balance shouldn't determine the quality of your health care. When I think about what these measures will mean, I think about the young mum in Coorparoo who was weighing up whether to provide food for her kids or fill her script. I also think about that young woman cutting her medication in half to make it last longer.”
“For the first time in more than 30 years, oral contraceptives like Yaz and Yasmin are listed on the PBS. Women who used to pay nearly $400 a year now pay $126. From next year, that will fall even further to just $25 per script and to $7.70 for concession card holders. The difference between $80 and $7.70 for essential medicines is the difference between exclusion and access—between anxiety and peace of mind. Another Griffith local Gina shared with me her heartbreaking story of untreated infertility and endometriosis. Making more oral contraceptives available will be life changing for her, as she transitions through perimenopause. This is a view that was recently also shared with me when I met with the CEO of Pelvic Pain Australia, Renee Rankin.”
“We're delivering the largest cut to the cost of medicines in the history of the PBS. The maximum cost of a general script fell in January 2023 to $30 from $42.50. We introduced 60-day prescriptions in three phases from September 2023, saving time and money for millions of Australians with an ongoing health condition. We also froze the cost of PBS medicines, with co-payments for all Australians not rising with inflation for first time in 25 years. So far in my electorate of Griffith, my community has saved nearly $11 million because of our cheaper medicine initiatives. Let me be clear. When we reduce the cost of common medicines such as cholesterol tablets, antibiotics, blood pressure medication and anti-depressants, we're delivering real relief where people actually need it. We're also delivering on women's health.”
“Four out of five PBS medicines will become cheaper because of this government's $689 million investment. Pensioners and concession card holders will keep paying no more than $7.70, with that cost frozen until 2030. Importantly, all medicines that pharmacies can discount today will continue to be discounted once the copayment is cut, with provisions included to protect that availability. This bill strengthens the Albanese government's strong commitment to affordable medicines and builds on actions already taken to deliver cost-of-living relief through cheaper medicines. I want to take this opportunity to outline what our government has already delivered. We're providing more free or cheaper medicines sooner, with a 25 per cent reduction in the number of scripts a concessional patient must fill before the PBS safety net kicks in.”
“But that, unfortunately, was not the only sad story I heard. A pharmacist in Coorparoo told me of a young mum who came to the counter, faced with a terrible choice: should she buy the medicine she needed for herself or put food on the table for her kids? No parent should ever have to face that decision, and these reforms mean they won't have to. No Australian should ever have to ration their treatment and make sacrifices to their health because of the rising cost of scripts, and that's why this bill matters. In 2023, we made the single biggest cut to the cost of PBS medicines in history. But we know there is more work to do, and that's why this bill responds to these needs by delivering a range of measures, including more than a 20 per cent cut in the maximum cost of PBS medicines, saving Australians over $200 million every year.”
“Not too long ago I had the opportunity to discuss the latest price drop of PBS medications with Paris, a young local pharmacist who lives in Murarrie in my electorate. Paris knows how these changes are going to make a big difference. She told me: For many people in our community, even small reductions in the cost of medicine can make a huge difference. Families are already struggling with day-to-day living expenses, so knowing their essential prescriptions will cost no more than $25 provides real relief and peace of mind. Paris also shared a heartbreaking story. She told me about a patient who was cutting her antidepressant tablets in half just to make them last longer. This woman was juggling medicines for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental health, and she just simply couldn't afford them all.”
“One life-saving and transformational treatment, Trikafta, can cost families over $250,000 per year. Following its introduction to the PBS in 2022, from 1 July this year, our government has expanded this medication's listing to include CF patients two years and older who have at least one CFTR gene and who are responsive to treatment. This means more than 90 per cent of the 3,800 Australians living with CF now have access—and now, with these changes, this medication will cost families just $25 per script. More than likely, if we had had this medication available and affordable then, Rhelma and Amy would still be here today. I am thankful to say that my best friend, who also has cystic fibrosis, is most certainly here because of this medication and because of its inclusion in our PBS.”
“These are significant changes that people right across the country and in my electorate of Griffith will feel every time they fill their PBS scripts. I want to be very clear: our Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, our PBS, saves lives. When I was a teenager growing up in Brisbane's Hawthorne in the 1990s, I went to school with a good friend Rhelma Donaldson, and I swam at the Morningside Flyers Swim Club with my friend Amy Franklin. Both of these friends were teenagers with cystic fibrosis. Both passed away within six months of one another. Rhelma was just 16 years old, and Amy had just turned 18. Back then we had no effective treatments for CF, an inherited, chronic and life-threatening disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system. Today we have effective treatments available for this condition, but they are prohibitively expensive.”
“The difference between those opposite and the Albanese Labor government couldn't be any clearer. Labor strengthens Medicare and makes medicines cheaper. The Liberals weaken Medicare and let prices soar. Now, this government is turning that around, lowering the price so that Australians can once again afford the medicines they rely on to stay well. From 1 January next year, the general patient copayment of PBS medication will fall from $31.60 to $25, delivering on our election commitment. Deputy Speaker Scrymgour, I will leave it to you to decide whether you'd enjoy a reprise of Shannon Noll and his 2004 musical proclamation that 'it isn't fair', but what I can tell you is a reprise that delivers fairness and one that is welcomed by our community is lowering the cost of PBS medicines to 2004 prices.”
“Back in 2004, more than 20 years ago, when Australians were paying no more than $25 for their PBS medicines, families could go to the chemist knowing that the medicines they needed were within reach relative to the wage that they were earning. But, in the years since, the cost of prescriptions has steadily risen, and, for many people, it has become harder to keep up. It's worth pausing for a moment here to look at the coalition's track record when it comes to health. They froze Medicare rebates for six long years, pushing up GP costs and forcing more people into emergency departments. They knocked back proposals for cheaper medicines when they were in office, keeping prices higher for patients. They cut hospital funding and picked fights with the states instead of fixing the system.”
“Whether it's getting their kids better from an illness or purchasing medicines to help manage a chronic disease, the rising cost of medicines is regularly raised as a significant cost-of-living burden. It saddens me to know that, for many in my community, filling a prescription is not always as simple as it should be. Sometimes it feels like just one more barrier to getting the care they need. That's why I'm proud to stand here today and speak in support of the National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025. This bill is about fairness, dignity and health equity. It's about making sure no-one in our country has to choose between their health and their household budget. This bill is practical relief for the household budget, and it is about better health outcomes for our community.”
“I ask you to cast your mind back to 2004. Australia's Mary Donaldson married Frederik, the Crown Prince of Denmark. The game World of Warcraft was released on PC, Britney Spears sang 'Toxic' while Shannon Noll asked, 'What about me?' Facebook had just been founded, Shrek 2 was the biggest film, a Big Mac cost $4.05, you could get two litres of milk for well under $3, and prescriptions on the PBS were less than $25. Today, whenever I speak to people in Griffith, I hear how much time, effort and resources families are putting in to look after themselves and one another. During my campaign in Griffith I knocked on close to 15,000 doors. Since then, time and time again at my mobile offices across the electorate, Griffith locals have raised with me the rising cost of medicines as a key issue for them and their families.”
“It's about giving people back their dignity, their access to quality and timely care and, in many cases, their future. We are building a mental health system that puts people first, one that meets Australians where they are at every stage of life. That's what this motion is about, and that's why I have moved it in this chamber.”
“Since coming into government, we've already established 42 Medicare mental health centres that offer walk-in mental health care and free access to a psychiatrist and psychologist, either on site or on call; we've established 12 perinatal mental health centres to provide support to new patients; we've expanded the headspace network to more than 170 centres; we've restored the bulk-billing telehealth psychiatry Medicare rebate so Australians living outside metropolitan areas get equal access to clinical mental health support; and we've expanded the mental health workforce, with more than 4,000 psychology scholarships, internships and training places. These changes are about removing the financial burden on families, on parents and on young people which often stands in the way of treatment and recovery.”
“Across the country, families have said they need better access to mental health support services that are affordable, reliable and empathetic. That's why we're delivering youth specialist care centres for the so-called missing middle—those young people who are too unwell for primary care but not sick enough for acute care. For too long they've been left without support. And the best part is that these services are free. That's the kind of practical real-world change that families tell me makes all the difference.”
“Her son was matched with a fantastic psychologist who, for the past four years, has walked alongside her son and their family through the challenges of early high school, helping him manage his outbursts, frustrations and self-doubt. At best, this mum had hoped her son would complete year 10, but, with the right care and the incredible support from his psychologist and the Woolloongabba headspace centre, her son now not only is confident to finish school but dreams of becoming a sports broadcaster. She told me her son no longer feels trapped by his mental health and he feels supported to thrive in life, all thanks to the incredible services and team at our local headspace. That's what these services mean; they mean young people can have hopes for the future and families feel supported, included and understood. That story is not unique.”
“We will support more than 1,200 training places for mental health professionals and peer workers. Recognising that too many Australians have had too long to wait or have had to travel too far or pay too much to get help led to the promise of these bold reforms for a better future. Every single one of those services is more than just a building; it's an open door when someone needs it most. In my own community, I recently heard from a local mum who told me about her son's journey with ADHD and its impacts on his mental health. She said that, with so many confusing and costly options out there, our local headspace at Woolloongabba was by far the best support that her family found.”
“None of us are immune. Whether it's our children, our parents, our friends or ourselves, we all know how it feels when the right care isn't there, and we all know how much it matters when it is. That's why this motion is so important, because the Albanese Labor government is putting mental health at the heart of Medicare and making sure services are close to home, easy to find and simple to access. At the last election we made a $1.1 billion commitment to strengthen mental health care right across this country. This includes 31 new and upgraded Medicare mental health centres, taking the total number of them to 91; 58 new, upgraded or expanded headspace services; 20 youth specialist care centres for young people with complex needs; and eight new perinatal mental health centres.”
“I move: That this House notes that: (1) to meet growing need, the Government is putting mental health at the heart of Medicare and services at the centre of communities; (2) the Government is rolling out a national network of 91 Medicare Mental Health Centres, which offer free walk-in mental health support and care from clinical and non-clinical staff, without the need for an appointment, referral, or mental health treatment plan; and (3) the Government is delivering services, closer to home, across the whole of the lifespan by opening new Perinatal Mental Health Centres, Medicare Mental Health Kids Hubs, headspace centres, and Medicare Mental Health Centres. As a proud former CEO of a national youth mental health charity, I know that when we talk about mental health we are talking about an issue that touches every family in Australia.”
“I say to Sister Angela Mary: on behalf of our community and the countless lives you touch, thank you. You are a true gift, and we celebrate not only 100 remarkable years but a legacy of compassion and care that will endure long into the future.”
“Shamefully, the then premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, directed a fear campaign on the virus, arguing, 'Nobody must help these men, because their illness is a direct punishment from God.' Sister Angela Mary recalls thinking, 'I don't know what God you know.' The Premier, unbelievably, refused about $100,000 in federal funding, money that Sister Angela Mary secretly accepted and funnelled through the Mater to the Queensland AIDS Council, now the Queensland Council for LGBTI Health. With fear of being discovered by the authorities, Sister Angela Mary met with people living with HIV/AIDS and organised delivery of care. The then federal Minister for Health, Dr Neal Blewett, later said the Sisters of Mercy were 'the most altruistic of money launderers'.”
“This past weekend, I had the honour of celebrating an extraordinary milestone in our community: the 100th birthday of Sister Angela Mary Doyle AO. Sister Angela Mary has dedicated her life to caring for others after her arrival from Ireland in 1947. Under her leadership, Mater's Neonatal Critical Care Unit was established, and she oversaw the expansion of Mater Mothers hospital, where I was born, into the largest maternity service in the Southern Hemisphere. In the 1980s, Sister Angela Mary stood up with courage, conviction and love for gay and bisexual men during the HIV/AIDS crisis.”
“As we approach breeding season, I urge our wonderful community to drive slowly, leave a gap and scan roadsides for wildlife, especially between dusk and dawn. I want to acknowledge the hard work of the Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee, Koala Rescue Brisbane South, the Friends of Whites Hill Reserve and also the Queensland Koala Society and the Save the Koalas and Wallabies of Whites Hill. Koalas are more than just a national symbol; they are a vital part of our local environment. Their survival is closely connected to the health of our ecosystems, and when we protect koalas we're also protecting the broader environment we share.”
“We know koala numbers are decreasing due to habitat loss and fragmentation, road mortality, dog attacks, disease and climate change. In my community we are fortunate to have dedicated volunteers who will sit on the roadside overnight when koalas are close and in possible danger. Devastatingly, last week we lost eight koalas in our area. These deaths are heartbreaking, and I share the grief that our community feels. Our local rescuers are exhausted, sleep deprived and devastated from this past week's losses. I thank the council for the progress that has been made at Whites Hill, with the overpass and fencing, and I've been in touch with our local councillor and our state member to discuss what more can be done to support our local populations.”
“Griffith is lucky to have an urban koala population, which extends through the bush corridors connecting Whites Hill Reserve to Toohey Forest. Our colony is part of our community, and their presence is a reminder of just how lucky we are to live in a city that still has pockets of rich living biodiversity. In the last term, former environment minister Tanya Plibersek and I visited the Whites Hill Reserve, where she had previously announced $76 million in funding over four years from the Saving Koalas Fund to support habitat rehabilitation. I know that our current Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Murray Watt, has also visited the reserve. In May I participated in the Great Koala Count with B4C, in partnership with UQ, at Whites Hill Reserve, where we spotted 22 koalas.”
“It will take the weight off their backs, it will help with the cost of living and it will help build Australia's future. I commend this bill to the House.”
“Unbelievably, those opposite wanted any Commonwealth prac payments added to a student's HELP debt. With thanks to the people of Australia, including the people of Griffith, this week we are able to fulfil our promise and cut student debt by 20 per cent. I think April, a student of social work from West End in my electorate of Griffith, summarised it best when she said of this action: It's not just about individuals, it's investment in our nurses, teachers, our scientists … We all benefit from this. We do all benefit from this bill. I am proud that this bill will cut student debt by 20 per cent. I am proud that it will cut the debt of three million Australians. I am proud that it will cut the student debt of an almost-filled Gabba stadium of Griffith residents, more than 31,000, mostly young, people.”
“So, instead, I graduated with an arts degree and it took several years of me saving to be able to return to university to complete my education qualifications. I did this, and I am proud to say that I am now teacher trained. What I'm also proud of is that, from the start of this month, this government is offering Commonwealth prac payments to support teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students. These payments will help these students who are studying to work in careers to help us. This is another way that this government is supporting young Australians, just like cutting their student debt by 20 per cent through this bill. Whilst we on this side of the House were promising Australians that we would cut student debt, those opposite were making plans to increase it.”
“A good education system changes countries. It's changed ours. We have got a good education system in Australia today. But the truth is it can be better and it can be fairer. This bill is part of that. I wasn't able to finish my education degree when I first went to university in the early 2000s. I worked throughout my study, usually full time, to be able to afford my rent, food and bills. I completed all of the coursework for my education degree, but when it came to my final prac I could not afford the six weeks off to be able to undertake it. There was no support for somebody like me to be able to complete the final practicum required for their education degree. My rent, grocery costs and bills would not disappear when my income would have.”
“This bill addresses that as this bill also raises the minimum amount you have to earn before you have to start making repayments from just over $54,000 in 2024-25 to $67,000 in 2025-26 and it reduces the minimum repayments you have to make. For someone earning $70,000, it will reduce the minimum repayments they have to make by $1,300 a year. That's real cost-of-living help. It's more money in your pocket, not the government's, when you really need it. You can still pay off more if you want to. What this does is make the system fairer. As our education minister said, it means you start paying off your uni degree when university starts to pay off for you. Like our Minister for Education, I believe education is the most powerful cause for good. As the minister outlined to this House: A good education changes lives.”
“As promised, this is the very first bill to be introduced to parliament after the election and, as promised, and as we heard from the Minister for Education, it cuts the student debt of three million Australians by 20 per cent. When I left school in 1999 and went to university, I studied an arts-education degree with the hopes of becoming a secondary school teacher. I had wanted to be a teacher for as long as I could remember. I worked throughout my study, sometimes full time with an almost full-time study load. While I was thankful to be able to go to university, something neither my parents nor I could ever have afforded to do without what was then a HECS debt, the debt repayments were significant. They kicked in while I was still studying and greatly impacted my ability to support myself and get ahead.”
“And I have no doubt this bill will provide debt relief to some of the young lawyers at centres like the Refugee and Immigration Legal Service in South Brisbane, who provide free immigration advice, legal assistance and legal education to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Queensland. This bill will also provide relief to people like Marcia, a young resident who lives in West End in Griffith. Marcia said: I took on a big debt to study psychology because I want to help people, especially those doing it tough. One of my sisters became a teacher to support the next generation. We didn't choose these paths for the money. We chose them because we care. Cutting student debt and raising the threshold is recognition that working-class people who give back shouldn't be punished for getting an education.”
“The average HELP debt today is $27,600. When this legislation passes, that debt will be cut by $5,520. For the people of Griffith with a debt of $50,000, it will be cut by $10,000. Those opposite would have you believe that this bill is only helping write off the debt of lawyers and doctors. The member for Flinders said as much this morning to this House. This bill will certainly help many of the healthcare workers in Griffith; hospitals are one of the largest industries of employment in my electorate. Diligent, hardworking and caring healthcare workers at the PA, Mater and Greenslopes hospitals are performing daily miracles in a universal healthcare system that is the envy of the world. This bill will provide relief to many of the young healthcare workers in Griffith starting out in their careers—doctors, nurses and paramedics.”
“This bill will cut the student debt of three million Australians by 20 per cent. It will cut the student debt of more than 31,000 people in Griffith. In the lead-up to the last election, I had the privilege of doorknocking on almost 15,000 doors personally, and I spoke to thousands of young people in my electorate. I heard time and again what cutting student debt would mean to them, their current household budgets and their ability to move forward with their lives. Indeed, most of those helped by this bill are young Australians just out of uni, just out of TAFE, just out of home and just getting started. They're struggling to pay their rent, trying to save to buy a home or thinking about starting a family. They're nurses, teachers, tradies, doctors, paramedics, engineers, architects, IT workers and AI experts.”
“I rise to speak in support of the Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 Per Cent) Bill 2025. I ask that you imagine the Gabba stadium in the beautiful electorate of Griffith recently on the evening of 18 July, when the Brisbane Lions played the Western Bulldogs. I ask you to imagine the stadium that night filled with what I can only assume were mostly Lions supporters. Imagine the buzz and the energy of more than 29,000 people who attended that game. The majority of those 29,000 people were winners that night there in that stadium. I ask you to imagine that stadium teeming with people, because this bill will help more people in my electorate of Griffith than even the number of attendees at the Gabba that night. This bill will help over 31,000 people in Griffith, more winners than even a Lions game at the Gabba.”